Allergy Shots Still Effective for Seniors

09 Feb Allergy Shots Still Effective for Seniors

Allergy shots can still benefit seniors with allergies, a new study suggests.

The study included 60 people with hay fever between the ages of 65 and 75 who were given either allergy shots or a placebo for three years.

Those who received the allergy shots had a 55 percent reduction in symptoms and a 64 percent decrease in their use of allergy relief medication, according to the study results.

They were published Feb. 9 in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

The researchers, led by Dr. Andrzej Bozek of Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, said diagnosis and management of hay fever in seniors can be challenging because they tend to have other health conditions. The researchers added that their findings show that an aging immune system doesn’t significantly reduce the effectiveness of allergy shots.